MAJOR SAVINGS FOR NETWORK EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER
Reducing Equipment Costs using Physical Layer Switching
A major network equipment manufacturer operates an automated test lab for network switches. They faced the issue of dedicating traffic generators between multiple devices under test (DUTs) in each of their 80+ testbeds. In order to increase testing efficiency and scale, they incorporated APCON's INTELLAPATCH switches into their test strategy.
The lab engineers designed a new test bed design with an APCON 288-port switch, creating a pool of testbeds that share one traffic generator. They connected multiple line cards on the units under test to each APCON switch, and then applied one generator per APCON switch to support several connected devices simultaneously. They have expanded to four test beds, each using an APCON 288-port INTELLAPATCH, to create a pool of test beds that has expanded testing capabilities, reduced capital budgets and accelerated product to market. With this optimized design, they gained full coverage of all devices without the need to dedicate a traffic generator to each testbed. This increased equipment utilization by keeping valuable traffic generator ports active and working at all times.
As part of the test process, the engineers created a Tcl script that automatically configures the APCON switch, creates a preset connection topology, and recalls each required preset topology for the next test. Increased efficiency in equipment utilization means fewer traffic generators were required to test the same number of devices, which resulted in major cost savings.
The Physical Layer Solution
Physical layer switches can provide protocol transparent, low-latency any-to-any switching for digital signals using both fiber and copper media. A layer-1 switch installed at the core of an automated test system allows users to rearrange network topologies and re-route signals instantly, while providing results that are more accurate based on repeatability. Adding a physical layer switch to a test lab can increase efficiency, decrease the time an engineer spends configuring and reconfiguring a testbed, and ultimately accelerate time to market.
Many test configurations use a dedicated one-to-one configuration between a testing tool(s) and a DUT. With the APCON INTELLAPATCH switch in place, engineers can wire all devices once and reconfigure many times over. Topology reconfiguration is simple using a graphical web browser interface that electronically connects ports on the INTELLAPATCH to switch tools and create new topologies. The INTELLAPATCH can also be automated using various scripting languages such as PERL and TCL. A physical layer switching infrastructure eliminates the need for a large inventory of expensive test tools and often results in significant cost savings.
To learn more about test lab automation solutions from APCON, please call 800.624.6808 or visit apcon.com/solutions.
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